What Makes White Tea So Distinctive?

 

Just like black tea and oolong tea, white tea is also derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What makes white tea different from those other teas is that the leaves are picked from the plant before they are open fully, while they are still covered by white hairs. In contrast, black tea undergoes a full fermentation process, while green tea is not fermented at all. As a result, white tea tends to be a bit more scarce than the other teas, and is of course a little bit more expensive.

 

White tea is actually quite similar to green tea since there's very little processing and no fermentation involved. White tea is noticeably different in taste however, with none of the grassy flavor that is commonly associated green tea. Most white tea drinkers describe the taste is being light and slightly sweet. White tea is best prepared by steeping it in water that is just slightly below the boiling point.

 

If you want to gain the maximum benefits from drinking tea, white tea is the best choice for you. This variety has a lot less caffeine than other types of teas, and they have also been shown to possess more antioxidants. As with all other teas however, white tea is sold under a variety of different names, with white peony, golden moon, and white cloud being some of the more popular variants. Most white teas sold in the market today are produced in China and Japan, although the Darjeeling region of India is also known for producing an exceptionally flavorful white tea.

 

What makes white tea so different is its color and taste. It is definitely quite distinctive in appearance and has a noticeably pleasant taste. In fact the finest white tea available–Silver needle–is produced entirely from the unopened buds of the plant, and is noticeably better tasting than any other type of tea. Upon tasting your first cup of white tea, you will notice a light delicate flavor with just a slight sweetness. This has the effect of sharpening your senses without overwhelming your palate.

 

Since white tea has a lot less caffeine than black or green tea–and definitely a lot less than coffee–it makes a great choice for people who wish to reduce their caffeine intake. This alone with its distinctive flavor and aroma makes white tea the ideal choice for people who are looking to explore the wonderful world of tea drinking.